Ekaterinburg in Photos

Hello all! I know it's been a while since my last post, so I'll try to make up for it. I was lucky to spend this past weekend in Ekaterinburg at an Economics Forum. Ekaterinburg is about a 15 hour train ride east of Kazan, and is located in the Ural Mountains. It is generally agreed that the city lies approximately on the border between Europe and Asia, so I was a little surprised to find that it felt much more typically "Russian" than Kazan. Tatar culture contributes so much to the city and the republic, and the difference between Tatarstan and the rest of Russia is tangible as soon as you cross the border. A big thank you to the Ural State Economics University, especially our gracious hosts Ivan and Anton, for putting this all together. It was such a pleasure to get to know your city and your students!
Enjoy the pictures,
Abby

One of my favorite Russian traditions: lovers and newlyweds put a lock marked with their names on a bridge to symbolize their eternal love. 

The mayor's office in Ekaterinburg 

The temple that marks where Tsar Nicholas II and his family lived during their exile before their brutal execution by the revolutionaries. 

Another favorite Russian tradition: if you want to hold onto good memories of a place and someday return, it is customary to leave something behind, usually a few kopecks (like our penny). I dropped a coin into the river in hopes that I can visit my friends again soon!

Vladimir Ilich Lenin 

The city, as seen from one of the tallest buildings in the city.